Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced the state’s intent to implement its new statutory authority to identify, designate, and combat terrorist organizations operating in Florida, marking the first use of powers established by HB 1471. DeSantis signed the bill into law during a ceremony on the University of South Florida campus in Tampa on April 6, 2026, and the law took effect Wednesday, July 1.
Under HB 1471, Florida’s chief of domestic security within the Florida Department of Law Enforcement may designate qualifying organizations as domestic or foreign terrorist organizations. The governor and Cabinet then approve or reject each designation by majority vote before publication in the Florida Administrative Register.
“Today, we are officially designating terrorist organizations under Florida law. In addition to CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood, we are adding Antifa to the list, along with more than 90 Foreign Terrorist Organizations, including cartels,” DeSantis said in a statement. Among the named foreign designations are the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and cartels, including Cartel de Sinaloa, Tren de Aragua, Cartel del Noreste, and Cartel del Golfo.
Hellbound and Down 